Pelosi to submit multiple public options for CBO scoring

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/62231-pelosi-to-submit-multiple-public-options-for-cbo-scoring


Pelosi to submit multiple public options for CBO scoring
By Tony Romm - 10/08/09 12:00 PM ET


Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will submit multiple versions of the House's healthcare bill for cost estimates, she announced on Thursday.

The first proposal will include a "robust public option," which would tie doctor reimbursement rates to that of Medicare plus five percent. The remaining two drafts submitted for the Congressional Budget Office's consideration would include a public option based on "the negotiated rates that some in our caucus have supported and which was passed by the Energy and Commerce Committee," the speaker explained during Thursday's press briefing.

"And then we'll see back from the CBO what the scoring is on all of that," Pelosi said. "And, of course, we have promised not a dime to the deficit. This is our promise. We will not take a bill to the floor, the president will not sign a bill that adds a dime to the deficit."

Pelosi's latest efforts arrive at a crucial juncture in the healthcare debate. On Wednesday, the CBO revealed the Senate Finance Committee's draft would cost well under $900 billion -- great news for Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and his supporters, who hope to advance the bill to the Senate floor next week.

But unlike both the House's bill and the Senate's second proposal, the draft crafted by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, Baucus' mark lacks a public option. The government plan's supporters now face the daunting task of convincing their colleagues to retain the provision, all the while crafting a compromise bill that costs less than $1 trillion and remains deficit neutral.

Pelosi on Thursday stressed both goals were attainable. She reaffirmed her committment to including the public option in the chamber's final health bill, and stressed her series of CBO submissions would help her party choose which variation was best.

"But we're in a very good place, because we have many good options, and that's why I'm so pleased about where we are," Pelosi said. "There will be the votes for a public option. Now it's a question of which one."

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. What!? These haven't been submitted yet?

The bills have been out of their respective committees since, what, June? July?

[babylonsister]

2. They were probably waiting for the Senate bill to be scored first.

Don't ask me why.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Last one scored is the last one on people's minds when the bill is considered.

Can you even remember the specifics of the previous bills that were scored? I can, but it's hazy and would be replaced by newer scores.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. I will take this a a slice of good news then.

And now look forward to 676 being last. :evilgrin:

[ddeclue]

3. Translation: She won't submit HR676 Single Payer for scoring...

:eyes:

[joeycola]

4. I wish she would ask the CBO is score single payer. I

realize many are saying someone submitted it but WHO did and when will the cbo put out the score? anyone?

[joeycola]

askf the CBO is single payer was requested to be scored. contact here.

http://www.cbo.gov/contacts/

[joeycola]

6. askf the CBO is single payer was requested to be scored. contact here.

http://www.cbo.gov/contacts/